XI Corps (North Korea)
| XI Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | January 1969–present |
| Country | North Korea |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | infantry |
| Size | Classified |
| Part of | Korean People's Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Tokchon |
| Nickname(s) | Old Special 8th Legion, Old Alert Map Bureau, 4th Army Corps, Unit 630 Unit |
The XI (11th) Corps (camouflage names of the 465th Army or the 630th United Nations Corps), are a corps of the Korean People's Army and are the headquarters of all special forces. It is known that its headquarters are based in Tokchon.
The 17th Reconnaissance Brigade merged with the 124th Army and 283th Army[1] of the National Security Agency's Reconnaissance Division, which were founded in early October and 16th of 1967, respectively, to form the "Special Eighth Army" in January 1969. In July 1983, it was changed to the Ministry of General Affairs' Office of the Ministry of Servitude and Guidance (English: Light Infantry Guide Bureau), and in 1991 it was reorganized into the 11th Corps.
In 2020, members of the Corps were sent to the Sino-DPRK border area of Ryanggang Province to combat smuggling and other "anti-state" activities.[2] In 2025, it was reported that the North Korean infantry deployed to the Kursk front of the Russo-Ukrainian War consisted of 4 brigades from the North Korean 11th Corps.[3]
Known units
[edit]- 16th Sniper Brigade
- 38th Aviation Army Brigade in Sangwon County, Pyongyang
- 43rd Mountain Army Infantry Sniper Brigade-5 battalions, Kapsan County, Hyesan, Ryanggang-do
- Unit 124, a special operations unit that was involved in the 1968 Blue House raid[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "국방 사건사" (PDF). Imhc.mil.kr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ a b "North Korea Sends Special Forces to Ryanggang Province Border With China". Radio Free Asia. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ John Hardie (31 January 2025). "North Korean troops pull back in Kursk as Pyongyang prepares fresh deployment, officials say". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 31 January 2025.